Two arrested in Sandhills Bank robbery

Randy Jones

Two men are in jail today, charged in Tuesday’s armed robbery of Sandhills Bank in Bethune.

According to a Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) press release, Bethune Police Chief Joey Cobb arrested Yancey Wilson, 21, of Richland County and Randy Jones, 21, of Bethune. Cobb charged them with armed robbery and criminal conspiracy. Cobb is additionally charging Wilson with the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and kidnapping.

Just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, a then unknown gunman forced a bank employee into the bank building at gunpoint and stole an undisclosed amount of money. A citizens witnessed the robbery and attempted to follow the gunman, who fired two rounds from a handgun. The suspect’s actions caused the witness to stop following him. However, two other citizens provided law enforcement with a description of the getaway vehicle.

According to the press release, a KCSO patrol supervisor saw a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car at a Lugoff carwash Thursday. The deputy also noticed the vehicle displayed a paper tag exactly like the one on the suspect vehicle. The deputy reported three men were with the vehicle and called additional deputies to the scene. The three men agreed to go to KCSO headquarters for questioning.

Investigators interviewed the three men, one of whom provided details of the robbery. Based on the interviews, Cobb, KCSO investigators and a U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent obtained and executed search warrants in several locations. Cobb then obtained arrest warrants for Wilson and Jones.

Both men are being detained at the Kershaw County Detention Center. The FBI will likely file federal charges against the men relative to federal bank robbery statutes, according to the KCSO press release.

“Although these men are off the street, this investigation is continuing and additional charges against another individual may be forthcoming,” Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said. “The deputy who broke this case did an outstanding job and was observant enough to recognize the suspect’s vehicle two days after the robbery at a location far from the robbery incident. This ultimately led to the arrests of the robbery suspects.”

Jones has no prior arrests. Wilson recently left from prison after serving time for a strong armed robbery conviction. He has been previously arrested for first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and battery and strong armed robbery.